Bruce Newton

Holden will next week reveal a series of changes to its popular Captiva four-wheel-drive lineup, chopping models, raising prices and adding equipment.

Dropped from the range of the biggest-selling medium SUV is the Maxx, the smallest and most expensive model in the lineup. Also gone is the manual version of the base-level SX 2.0-litre turbo-diesel all-wheel drive.

The rest of the SX lineup continues with a $1000 price rise, something softened by the addition of a standard third row seat. That brings it up to the same seven-seat capacity as the mid and high-spec CX and LX Captivas.

SX, which also adds auto headlights, now kicks off with the $35,490 diesel manual front-wheel drive, climbing as high as $39,490 for the diesel auto all-wheel drive. The petrol 3.2-litre V6 auto AWD is priced at $38,490.

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The Korean-built Captiva has steadily gained in acceptance since its 2006 launch. In a declining SUV market the addition of the diesel engine has proved vital, now claiming 70 per cent of sales volume.

The Captiva sits atop the medium SUV segment sales chart after two months of 2009, ahead of the Toyota Prado and Kluger and the Ford Territory. SX still significantly undercuts those three despite the price rises.

The Maxx, priced at $44,490, was something of an orphan in the range. While it shared the Captiva’s all-wheel drivetrain and V6 engine, it was housed in a smaller five-seat only body.

“Maxx was premium five-seater SUV with contemporary styling and luxury appointments,” a Holden spokesperson said. “However, demand at the high end of the price ladder was from families who still have a functional need for seating flexibility. We believe this demand is covered by our Captiva LX.”

The top-spec LX, available only as petrol and diesel auto AWD, adds a reversing camera and leather gearshift, and rises $500 to $43,990 (petrol) and $44,990 (diesel).